Lens grinding and polishing machine.



J. H. HMMON.

LENS GRINDING AND POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FI1.ED IUNEZ. |917.

, Patented Ang. 6, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

v mvmron.- I

'A TTOHWE K 1. H. HAMMON. LENS GRINDING AND PULISI'IING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27.!91?. i 1,275,019, Patented Aug. 6, 1918. l

2 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

lNI/ENTUR:

JAHES HALLECK HAMMON,` OF VINCENNES, INDIANA.

LENS GBINDING AND POLI-SHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

.Application tiled June 27, 1917. Serial No. 177,238.

T0 all 'whom it mayoricern.'

i Be it known that I, JAMEs H. Hannon', a citizen of the United States, residing at Vincennes, in the county of Knox and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Lens Grinding and Polishin Machine, of which the following is a speccation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and tothe letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to machines that are designed to grind various forms of lenses and particularly those which are ground on concave tools or laps, the present application for Letters Patent relating to an nnmit the grinding or polishing of any charv pi'ovement on the apparatus shown in a prior Vpatent issued to me Szeptember 4, 1917, No. 1,39268. i'

An object of the present invention -is to provide an improved and moreiparticularly a universal grinding and polishing machine or sul-facer of such construction as to peracter of lens with equal or approximately equal ease, and by operatorshaving limited experience. Y

Another object is to provide a grinding and polishing machine in which the operations shall be performed with uniform or equal pressure on'` all portions` of the lens and also on the tool or lap, in order to keep the tool or lap surface true to avoid 'eX- pense of nevir tools or resurfacing damaged tools.

'A further object is to provide a lensrinding and polishing machine which shall `e especially adapted. for grinding toric vcylinder lenses in a simple manner and successfully, andalso be capable of grinding or polishin lenses of various other characters,

and'wit out'requiring expert operators; an-

aim being to provide a machine of the above-mentioned character which shall be simpleand durable, not liable to derangemcnt and o'n' which tlieoperations may be econon'iifally performed. i

A still further object is to provide im- 'oi the tool or lap.

" proveinents generally in lens-grinding and polishing machines and more particularly with reference to gearing, an important' object beingjto provide an improved lcontr-0L lable spindle for holding and driving the lenses correctly with respect to the tool or lap for all the various characters of lenses.

'With the aboveauentioncd and other objects in view'the invention consists in an improved lens--grindi-ng and polishing machine comprising essentially a driving spindle Sfor' the lens having a universal coupling to con` stitute a flexible spindle, the lowerportion of y which is controllable and adapted to carry and rotate the lens to be treated, the invention consisting also in novel means for guiding and (.fontrolling the controllable portion ofthe spindle so that it shall be maintained constantly at right angles to that part of the surface on which the grindingr is being clone while following the curvature The invention consists also further in imlnoved gearing for driving the lap and VtheV spindle and operatively conncctinir the lap and the spindle together;

Iand further, the invention consists in the novel parts and comliinat'ions and arrangements of parts as hereinafter I[mrticularly described and further defined in the appendedl claims.

)referring to the drawings,-Figure l is a top plan of the improved universal grinding and polishing machine minus the lgear casing (not shown) which in practice covers the uppermost gear wheels; Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the inachjnc partially broken away; Fig. 3 is a vertical central section of th(l machine with its st and broken away on the line III-lll on Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the improved sectional spindle as perferably constructed for controlling the lens; Fig. 5 is a front elevation the sectional spindle Ais moved toV central position on said llne; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section on the line VII-.VII on Fig. Fig. 8 is a perspective view'of one of the frame parts of the machine; and, Fig. 9 is a detail sectional ,elevation showing portions ofthe sectional spindle and its controlling 190 devices. i i

Similar reference characters on the d1if=erent figures of the drawings indicate similar parts or features of construction herein referred to and described.

. The invention as preferably constructed comprises a suitable stand 1 which supports a pan comprising a bot-tom 2 and a side wall A suitable support for a frame member' is provided and preferably comprises a boss 4 cast integrally on the outside of the wall of the pan, the boss having a suitable bore fective length. The projecting portion of the stud iscylindrical and is received in .a

5 vertically arranged therein. The bottornd smooth-bored socket 30 which is provided in 2 of the pan is provided with a journal box 6 in which a driving shaft 7 is rotatably mounted'in 'vertical arrangement. The driving shaft extends upward and also down` ward beyond the journal box and the lower lortion of the shaft is provided with a driving pulley 8. The driving shaft has a tapering upper portion 9 in vwhich is a. vertical slot 10. .Each tool or lap 11 provided with themachine has a socket 12 in its under side to receive the tapering portion 9 of the shaft, a cross bar 13 being secured inthe socket to enter the slot so as to accurately position and drive the tool or lap. The top 14 of the tool or lap is shaped as required for the lens required to. be ground er polished, dif# ferent tools lia-ving different surface contours, as will be understood. A toothed driving wheel 15 issecured to the driving shaft 7 below the bottom 2 of the pan. A frame vmember is provided which comprises a main or 'head portion 16 and a cylindrical portion 17 the portion 17 being rotatively arranged in the bore 5 of the boss 4, the boss having a set screw 18 mounted thereiirto secure the frame member to the boss by engagement with-the cylindrical portion 17. The frame member is suitably supported at the proper height proff erably by means of a shoulder 19 facing downward, the shoulder having a suitable bearing, preferably upon a collar 2() which has its bearing'upon the boss '4, the collar constituting' a part of a spindlepontrolling appliance and being rotatively arranged on the cylindrical portion 17 of the frame member; the collar being provided with a set screw 21 whereby to secure the-collar to the cylindrical portion. The frame member has a vertical bore l22 extending therethrough in which a main shaft 23 is suitably mounted so as to be rotatable, the shaft extending throlghthe frame member and the bore 5 and also through the bottom of the boss 4.

A toothedv gear wheel 24 is secured tothe' I that of' the-wheel -24 being 'secured' also to the shaft 23 upon the top of the portion '16 f the frame member; Preferably the bottom of the boss 4 is rovided with a journal bearin 26 for' the aft 23.

Pre erably the mai-n portion of the con- `ment with the driving sllaft one end of a lever 31. in .which a screw 32 having a lock-nut 33 is mounted, the screw having a suitable end portion `tlia't'eiitends into a circumferential groove 34 with which the stud is provided, so as tol constitute a swivel connection betweenv the main part of the lever and its pivotal collar 20. The lever 31 extends across the top ofthe wall 3 of the pan to be guided by the latter and has a handle 35 thereon. A 'portion of th'elever near its pivotal collar is lsuitably formed to constitute a yoke 3G in which a guide collar` 37 is arran edv on trunni' ns 38 and 39 that are adjusta ly secured t the yoke, so that the guide'collar may be bro'u ht into alinetilted in the yoke` l- The head portion 16l of the frame member has an arm 40 thereon spindle is provided which comprises a secl tion 4 3 and `a section 44 connected together 'by means of a vvsuitable universalcuupling 45,

a suitable coupling comprising-:two links or loops 46 and 47 connected together and iXedly secured, one to each section.

the journal box 41 and so as to be .mow

able longitudinally., the section extending wheel 50 havin a diameter equal to that of' the wheel 15. he collar 48 is provided with a dowel-pin 51 that operates in a socket 52 with which the wheel 50 is provided, to-

enable the wheel 50 to rotate the Spindle as the latter rises or falls. The lower one of the spindle sections which may be moved swingingly on the u per section is provided on its lower endwith) 54 whereby to rotate a` lens .holder or block 55 whichhas a socket 56 to receive'the-ball and a slot 57 to receive the cross bar.v The lens'holder'as will be understood is adapted toI have a-lens blank 58 or a number of blanks cemented thereto to be treated on the tool' or lap. The s W-ingable section 44 of the spindle hich is providedV with a journal box 41, the bore 42'of which is parallel with the shaft`23. An improved' 'Ifhe 'section 43 .is suitably mounted rotatably in and may be f ies a ball .53 having a cross. bar

extends rotatably and slidingly vthrough the Aguide collar 37 vand has a collar 59 fixed thereon on which a coil spring 60 is seated, the spring extending over the universal coupling and having its upper end suitably supported to yieldingly force the -lower section of the spindle downward. A suitable sup port for the spring may comprise an antifriction collar 61 arranged between the spring and the journal box 41.

In practical use the lower section 44 of the spindle that rotates the lens may be straight down as in grinding flat surfaces, or by means of the leverl 31 may be swung so as to be directed toward the vinner curve of concave spherical tools; or the section may be directed' at right angles to the central grinding portion of the curve of convex tools; the angular adjustment of the lower spindle section being necessary to successfully grind torio cylinder lenses on concave tools because of the fact that on concave cylinder tools there is more or less variation in the two principal meridians of the same, such con structionof spindle being necessary in order that there shall not be an irregular pressure as t-he grinding lens passes over the meridian. of great curvature to one of greater or less curvature, thereby enabling the lens to be ground uponA a tool whose lesser curved meridian is great and 'whose greater meridian is still more curved, with as much ease 'as the same can ground upon a tool which is plane in one meridian and concave in another, with the driving shaft at riglit angles to the plane of travel of the tool.

The spindle is rotated at the samespeed and in `the saine direction as the driving shaft 7; Having applied the desired forni of tool or lap to the machine the proper lens blank is applied and the blank properly positioned relativelyr to the tool. The set screws 18 and 21 may be loosened when making the required adjustmentand afterward tight-- enedglbut .when ,it is desired to move the lever 31 the set screw 21 is slackened, as will be understood. Then the lever is moved i laterally it is caused b v the spindle section Y `-travels to the outer edge o 44. to turn on its swivel connection.

The necessity of a universal coupling in Ythe spindle of a surfacing machine of the'l character described is diie to the fact. that in grinding convex surfaces, 4which are groundon concave tools it is absolutely necessary that thespindle holding the lens in contact with the grinding surface shall bc rotated or its position ,maintained as nearly as possible tortliat of an altitude of the particular plane upon which the glass isbeing round; one of the primeA nccessit-iesrof this eing because of. the fact that where the driving-spindle is not so situated as thelensr periphery of the i 4concave tool the angle'forrn'ed of necessity brings an oblique pressure on the glass, thereby causing the glass to fail to maintain an even pressure over its grinding face and causes the glass or lens to ily oi, due to the fact that the friction is greater on one side of the lass than'on the other, this being especial y true in polishing, inasmuch as the lens is always polished upon a cloth or some other soft surface which does not present 'a firm resisting surface to the glass.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isr 1. A surfacing niachinevincluding a driving shaft and a spindle rotatable on parallel` spring directly acting axially on the'swingable section of the' spindle and to follow the swinging movement of the section.

2. A surfacing machine having 'an upright driving shaft and a spindle rotatable in unison, the spindle comprising a jour naled section having a controllable swinging section, the spindle being movable longitudinally, the machine having a member affording a horizontal guide, .a controlling lever pivotally7 connected with the machine and slidingly guided upon the horizontal guide, and a guide collar adjustably carried by the lever and guiding the swinging section of the spindle. Y

3.. A surfacing machine including an up right driving shaft and a spindle rotatable in unison, the spindle comprising a journaled sect-ion having a. controllable swinging section, the spindle being movable longitudinally, the machine having pivot member and also a horizontal guide member, a controlling lever collar connected with the pivot member, a controlling lever an upright' having a swivel connection with the collar, y

l right driving shaft and a spindle rotatable in unison, the spindle comprising a journ naled sectionV having a controllable swinging,

section, the spindle being movablelongitudinally, the machine having an upright pivot member'and a horizontal guide niember, a controlling lever collar connected lwith the pivot member, a controlling lever having swiveled and longitudinally-ad]ustable ifo connection with the collar and slidingly guided upon the horizontal guide member, the lever being guided to perniit'it to rotatively turn upon the guide member, and a guide collar adjustably carried by the con- 'trolling level' and. guiding the swinging section of the spindl .4

5. A surfacing machine havingl a driving shaft and a spindle rotatable on parallel axes, the spindle comprising a journaled section having a controllable swingable section, the spindle being movable longitudinally, a collar secured to the swingable section of the spindle, a spring seated onthe collar to force the spindle toward the driving shaft, means for 'guiding` the swingable section of the spindle toadjust and hold it to position, and means for rotatingboth the driving shaft and the journaled section of the spindle at equal Speed and in one and the same direction.

6. A surfacing machine including a r0tatable drivingvshaft, a toothed driving wheel secured to the driving shaft, a tool' mounted on the driving shaft, a stationary support, a frame member pivotally mounted in the ,support and having an arm thereon pro vided with a journal box, a device or'fixedly securing the frame member to the stationary support, a main shaft rotatably mounted in the frame member and extending therethrough and through the support, a spindle rotatably mounted in the journal box and movable longitudinally therein, a lens holderto be' rotated by the spindle, a toothed driven wheel rotatable on the spindle, means for securing the driven wheel to the spindle, a spring cooperating with the spindleto move the spindle toward the tool, a toothed wheel secured traA the main shaft and meshing with the driviwi; wheel, and a second toothed wheel secured to the main shaft and meshing with the driven wheel.

7. In a surfacing machine, the combination with a drivingvshaft, and a lap mounted on. said shaft to be rotated thereby, of a supported frame member, a lens'holder to be rotated upon the lap, a spindle comprising an upper lsection and a lower section and a universal coupling connecting the two` sections together, the upper section being rota- -`tably mounted vin the frame member, the

lower :section being ada ted to rotate and shift the lens holder on t e lap, a supported springv actin .directly onthe lower section of thespindl ,.glearing connected with the driving shaft an thespindle and a pivoted and swiveled lever for controlling the lower section ei the spindle to shift or t'o hold lens holder to position. A

8. In a surfacing machine, the combination of a hollow support, a driving Vshaft rotatably supported, a toothed driving wheel secured to said shaft, a tool mounted on said shaft, a frame member havin cal portion extending thro g and rota'- tivelysupported in thehollow support, the

frame member having anr arm thereon-that isprovided with a journal box, a spindle rotatably mounted in said box to move longi- 'tudina-lly, a toothed driven wheel rotatable on the spindle and having a socket therein,

the

a cylindric a collar secured to the spindle and having a pin thereon extending into said socket, a main shaft rotatably mounted in the frame l member, a toothed Wheel .secured to the main shaft in mesh with the drivin Wheel, and a Second toothed wheel secure ,to the main shaft .in mesh 'with the driven wheel.

9, In a surfacing machine, the combination with a driving shaft and a iap thereon, and a supported. frame member, of a lens holderto be rotated upon the lap, a spindle seated upon the collar and extending about y the sections and the coupling of the spindle, the spring cooperating substantially withV the frame to force the lower section of the spindle toward the lap, gearing connected with the driving shaft and the spindle, and means:

for controlling` the angularity ofthe lower section relatively to the axis of the upper section of the spindle.

10. In a surfacing machine, the combination of a'pan comprising a bottom and a side wall, the wall having a hollow boss on one portion thereof, a driving shaft rotatable in the bottom of the pan, a pulley and a toothed driving wheel secured to the shaft below said bottom, a framev member havin 'a cylindrical portion rotatively mounte low boss, the frame member having a lateral arm on the upper portion thereof-that is provided with a journal box, a. main shaft rotatably mounted in the frame member and extending through the hollow boss, a spin-v dle rotatably mounted in said journal box,

a toothed driven wheel on the top of said box to drive the spindle, a toothed fwheel secured to. the main shaft and meshing with vthe driving wheel, a second toothed wheel secured to the main shaft and meshingwith the driven wheel, and a set-screw mounted in the hol- Y in said boss to engage and hold the cylindrical portion of said frame member,

11.l In a surfacin machine, the combination of a hollow l shaft, a toothed driving wheel secured to said shaft, a controlling lever collar supported upon said boss and having a screwthreaded socket ,in its side, a stud Ascrewed into said socket, a lever swiveled fon said stud and having a yoke provided with trun- -nions, a guide collar in said yoke and supported on said trunnions, a frame'member oss, a vertical driving.

having a cylindrical portion extending.

'through and rotatively supportedl upon said ever collar, said portion being rotatively arranged in and extendin through said boss,.a set-screw mounted in said boss to engage said cylindricalv portion, a set-screw `mounted in said lever collar to engagev said oylindrical portion, a spindle rotatablyv mounted in said frame member and having a swingable lower portion that extends rotatebly through said guide coller, zttoothed' driven Wheel on said spindle to rotate the latter, a main shaft rotatabiy mounted in,

said frame member, a toothed wheel secured 10 to the main shaft Vin mesh with the driving JAMES HALLECK HAMMON. Witnesses J. W. HAwmNs, A. K. HUBSH. j 

